Guide to Atlanta

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Because the US government has put more weight on the performance of students on standardized tests, teachers have been desperate to get results. In Atlanta, hundreds of teachers have been accused of helping their students (as a sort of blessing after rejection) to get better scores as well as lying to investigators some years ago.

The teachers contend that their cries for help have fallen upon deaf ears for more than two years. Some teachers have produced email correspondences to the Georgia Association of Educators where they voiced their concerns and were given false assurances.

For their part in the alleged cheating, hundreds of teachers in Atlanta may be laid off. Investigators believe that teachers used underhanded tactics in order to get their students to pass. Many educators say that they were publicly berated and threatened with disciplinary action if they failed to produce real results. If any teachers in Atlanta are fired, a class action lawsuit may be filed on their behalf.

Many school districts in the US struggle to meet the strenuous requirements set forth by the No Child Left Behind Act. Some of the teachers in Atlanta that have been accused of cheating say that they played no part in the scandal. It is likely that a lengthy investigation will follow, but investigators face huge hurdles.

Carnegie Monument

Officially named: Education Pavilion

The Carnegie Education Pavilion (generally named the Carnegie Monument) is located in Atlanta’s Hardy Ivy Park. The 23-ft. tall marble pavilion was created from the downtown Carnegie Central Library’s facade in 1996. The Library dated to 1901 but in 1977, it was demolished to clear the way the Fulton County Library. The beaux-arts monument is honoring bot Atlanta’s higher education and the Carnegie legacy. It holds the seals of nine local universities and colleges that are embedded in its floor.

1180 Peachtree

Also referred to as Symphony Tower

This is the tower that symbolizes Atlanta’s emergence into the 21st Century. 1180 Peachtree embraces the new modernist style in skyscraper design, moving beyond the black glass of the 1960s, the white concrete of the 1970s, the beige stucco of the 1990s.

More importantly, it signals Atlanta’s intention to diverge from the urban examples like New York and Chicago that came before it. Instead of creating dark, smothering canyons, buildings like 1180 use natural light, setbacks, and podiums to create a more welcoming environment — one where skyscrapers can work with people and the environment, rather than oppress them.

One Atlantic Center

Formerly: IBM Tower

The tallest building in Atlanta when it opened in 1987, One Atlantic Center ushered in a new wave of high-quality architecture and development in the Midtown area of Atlanta. The post-modern design by Philip Johnson features “Rosa Porino” (Spanish Pink) granite, classical details and a gold capped, copper pyramidal top. The location is visible from many parts of the city and the site features a 2 1/2 acre landscaped park with fountains.

Quick Facts:

Construction start: 1986

Construction finish: 1987

Designed by: Philip Johnson

Stories: 50

Maximum Height: 820 feet / 250 meters

One Atlantic Center definitely defines the character of Midtown Atlanta and is one of the most impressive and best-looking in the city. Still, after some 30 years in the business, the building is amazing and sets the standard for Atlanta and the southeastern US.